Permit to Purchase or Transfer a Firearm

Under Minnesota law, handgun transfers involve any sale, gift, loan, assignment or other delivery to another person. If you possess a valid permit to carry a handgun, that permit constitutes a permit to purchase. You don’t need to apply for a separate permit to purchase.

Application Process
Applicants must:

Apply in person

Be 18 years old to acquire or possess a handgun or military-style assault weapon. (Federal law requires you to be 21 years old to acquire handguns from licensed dealers).

Fully complete a state application. The law enforcement agency to which you apply will conduct a series of background-related checks to assure you meet the eligibility requirements established by state law. Once those checks are complete, a permit will be issued that is valid for one year and may be used to purchase a handgun statewide.

A person who is otherwise ineligible for a permit due to a criminal conviction but who has obtained a pardon or expungement setting aside the conviction, sealing the conviction, or otherwise restoring applicable rights, must submit a copy of the relevant order when applying.

If you want to make a one-time purchase of a handgun from a dealer, and you do not have a permit to purchase, you may apply directly at the gun shop where you will purchase the handgun. The gun shop will require you to complete a consent form that allows them to conduct a name and date-of-birth background check. The gun shops are entitled to charge a fee for this service.